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Phones

Phones on Airliners:

It is an offence to have an operational phone on an aircraft, yet the polititians of the day are ignoring this responsibility. The attorney-general no less. A fine for the mere plebs would be sure to result!! if we did this.

Attorney-General should be charged with aviation offence

It is grossly unfair for the first law officer in Australia, the Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, to be allowed to apologise his way out of an alleged refusal to turn off his mobile smart phone on a Qantas flight.

Ordinary people would have to defend their actions in court.

Ordinary people whether innocent or guilty, are not allowed to apologise for alleged offences against aviation law any more than they can apologise their way out of prosecution after being pulled over for speeding through school zones or other alleged offences.

And the law of the Commonwealth doesn’t actually differentiate between ordinary people and cabinet Ministers.

It is based on the principle that we are all equal before the law.

Mr Dreyfus has to uphold the law, even if it could be argued to be bad, silly or inappropriate law. Not apologise his way out of his fundamental obligations, which is an option not available to the people of lesser importance than the first law officer.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus’ apology for air incident

Stephen Drill

News Limited Network

May 03, 201312:00AM

inShare

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus/ Pic: Ray Strange

THE country’s top lawmaker has been forced into an embarrassing apology after his refusal to abide by aviation rules and turn off his mobile phone during a flight resulted in police being called to meet him when the plane touched down.

Qantas staff felt obliged to contact Australian Federal Police after Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus – who was determined to check his emails – refused to turn off his smart phone during take-off on a Sydney to Brisbane flight last week. After he ignored pre-recorded warnings about turning off all electrical equipment, a fellow passenger complained to Mr Dreyfus. His failure to follow standard safety instructions angered the passenger and a Qantas crew member, who both told him to turn off his mobile phone immediately.

Moments later a flight attendant admonished the former barrister, later reporting the situation to the captain. The airline took the incident so seriously it alerted the AFP, with officers asked to meet the plane and the Attorney-General at its destination.

Mr Dreyfus confirmed yesterday he had been told to turn off his phone and said he had apologised to those on board at the time. A spokeswoman said: “The Attorney-General regrets the incident and apologised to the passenger and to airport security.”

Mr Dreyfus had been at the opening of a Sydney legal centre on April 23.

“The AFP has been advised of an alleged incident on board a flight from Sydney to Brisbane on 23 April, 2013,” a police statement said.

“The incident involved a passenger failing to comply with the directions of crew.”